France comeback downs Ireland in World Cup quarter

Women’s Rugby World Cup – quarter-final

France (0) 18

Tries: Escudero, Grisez Cons: Bourgeois Pens: Bourgeois 2

Ireland (13) 13

Ireland were denied a place in the World Cup semi-finals as France came from 13-0 down to win their quarter-final tie 18-13 at Sandy Park in Exeter.

Ireland’s Linda Djougang and Stacey Flood had both scored tries in a first half when two French players were sent to the sin bin.

But Scott Bemand’s side were denied a third try of a dominant opening period by an incredible French defensive stand with the clock in the red at the end of the first half.

Ultimately, that passage loomed large when France came back with 18 unanswered points after the turn.

They had cut the deficit to just three with 20 minutes of the game remaining, reducing the arrears first through Morgane Bourgeois’ penalty and then Charlotte Escudero’s converted try.

Joanna Grisez’s score from inside her own half with 13 minutes to go completed the comeback to set up a semi-final with either England or Scotland next weekend.

With the wind at their backs, Ireland dominated the first half from start to finish.

Indeed, there was more than half an hour on the clock by the time France even touched the ball in the opposition half.

Given the conditions, it was no surprise that Ireland fly-half Dannah O’Brien looked to put boot to ball at every opportunity, and it was from one such kick that Ireland were able to take an early lead.

Number eight Escudero was left to deal with a testing kick in behind only to touch the ball in flight before it went dead to give Ireland the scrum five metres out.

While Ireland could not get over at the first attempt, the returning Aoife Wafer pounced on a loose ball before Sam Monaghan forced her way across.

As France prepared for the restart, the television match official (TMO) intervened to show a Wafer knock-on. Having been playing with advantage, Ireland tried again with prop Djougang this time barging across after Niamh O’Dowd and been stopped short.

With French tight head Rose Bernadou shown a yellow card for a high tackle, Ireland were able to double their advantage when, attacking off a scrum, Wafer carried hard at the line before O’Brien released Flood to get across the whitewash with a quarter of an hour of the first half remaining.

O’Brien converted neither of Ireland’s two tries but did add three points off the tee in the 38th minute after her pack had won a scrum penalty.

When French captain Manae Feleu was shown a yellow card minutes later for collapsing a dominant Irish scrum with the clock in the red, Bemand’s side looked to add another before the break.

Playing the second half without the wind in their favour, Ireland’s breakdown and scrum retained the same fierce edge in the opening exchanges after the restart, although French full-back Bourgeois got her side on the board with a penalty in the 48th minute.

As the hour-mark approached, France were still struggling to find their way into the game but were boosted when Ireland replacement Grace Moore was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle.

From the resulting penalty, the French would make the extra player count when Escudero had the space to scamper over for her side’s first try of the game.

Bourgeois’ conversion cut Ireland’s lead to just three with a quarter of the game remaining.

With the wind having eased, Ireland enjoyed a spell of pressure in a more even second half but, as they looked to extend their lead, France broke away from inside their own 22 for Grisez to score the game’s key try.

France: Bourgeois; Grisez, Menager, Vernier, Arbey; Queyroi, Bourdon Sanus; Brosseau, Gerin, Bernadou, M Feleu (capt), Fall Raclot, Berthoumieu, Champon, Escudero.

Replacements: Bigot, Deshaye, Khalfaoui, Ikahehegi, Okemba, T Feleu, Chambon, Boulard.

Yellow cards: Bernadou, Feleu, Chambon.

Ireland: Flood; Parsons, Dalton, Higgins, Costigan; O’Brien, Reilly; O’Dowd, Jones, Djougang, Campbell, Monaghan, Tuite, Wafer, Hogan.

Replacements: Moloney MacDonald, Perry, McGrath, Corri-Fallon, Moore, Lane, Breen, McGann.